Submarine mine.



G. E. ELIA.

SUBMARNE MINE.

APPLIGA'MON FILED 1mm, 1912.

1,068,873. Patented July 29, 1913.

UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE;

GIOVANNI EMANUELE ELIA, OF PBYIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR T0 VICKERS LIMITED, 0F

YVESTMINSTER', ENGLAND.

SUBMARINE MINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 2, 19122. Serial No, 668,866.

' To all whom" it may concern:

Be it known that I, GIOVANNI. EMANUELE En'iA,.a subjectof the King offItaly, residing at Hotel de Crillon, Place dela Con'- corde, Paris, in the Republic of France,have inventedfcertain new and useful Improvements 'in Submarine Mines, of which the ollowingis a specification.

This invention relates to submarine mines f the kindthat are adapted to be'anchoredl to the bottomof the sea.

Accordingto this invention the mine isso constructed that it is caused to explode by the rotary movement of the same effected by a shippassing-the mine in cf'intact with the same. This is` obtained by the mine be- *ing provided witha swinging arm or the like extending,T laterally from Vthe mine, which arm strikes the ship during the said rotary movement of the mine.v Owing,r to vthe relative movement thus obtained between the rotated mine and the said arm a spriii actuated strikeror the like is release which fires a percussion cap and cxplodes the mine. As `long as the mine is not submerged, the spring of the said striker is not put under v`tension and the percussion cap is .also in such a position that it cannot be reached by the striker. Consequently,

there is a full. security against the mine befired accidentally. Furthermore, the said swinging arm maybe locked as long as the mine is on the deck of the boat adapted iii to the bottom of the sea b means of a rope orthe like fixed to the sai ring to launch the mines and is released automatically as the mine is submerged.

A submarine mine arranged in accordance with this in'vention is shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing in vertical cen- 6. 8' is a partition wall fixed in the tube 3, and 9 is a' piston located on the opposite side of the said wall 8 with relation to the receptacle 5. The said piston 9 is connected with the receptacle by ra tube 10 passing through a stu'tiing box 11 provided in the partition wall 8, and is acted upon bya spring 12 located in the chamber 13 between the wall 8 and the piston. A ring 14 -fixed to the tube 3` forms an abutment for the piston -9 to limit its upward movement. The piston is provided with a valve 14"', which opens inward toward the chamber 13,'and with a narrow hole 14 for the purpose stated below. To the piston 9 a tube 15 is fixed, which communicates with the tube 10 and extends upward, cai'i'yingat its upper end a. member 16, iii :which a assae Y 17 is provided, coiiiinunicatii'lg with te. tu e l5 and tci'iniriatingr in the percussion can 18.` 'lln` passage 17 and the tubes 15, 10 are lied with gunpowder.

19 is a rod connected with the piston 9 in such manner that it can be rotated in the saine. The said rod 19 extends upward through la stuffing box 20, provided in a. hood 21 fixed to the buoy, and on its outer square end the swinging arm` u22 is mounted, 'and vis supported. by a ring Q -3, fixed on the hood 21. To the member 16 arod 24is ixed,

' which also extends through a stuffing box 25 provided in the hood. The. said rod 24 extends through or engages with an extension 26 of the swingingarm 22. In order that the arm 22` may be as' short as possible 'prior to launching, it consists of a .tube or cylinder 27, in which a piston 28 is located, acted upon by a. spring 29. The ,piston rod 30 extends through the end wall 31 of the cylinder 27, and between the said end wall 31 and the piston 28 blocks 32 of sal ammoniac or lother soluble substance are located, holding the piston and its rod in its inner position, as shown in the drawing.

33 are holes cylinder and a apted to admit water into the cylinder when the mine is submerged.

The rod 19 has two projections or fingers 34, 34, (see also Fig. 2,) which embr'aoe'aii arm 35 extending from a square rod 436. The said rod 36 is slidably mounted in a cylinder 37, tixed tothe buoy .'but cannot rotate in the same, and's 'actev upon by a spring 38, mounted between an end .piece 37v of the cylinder 37 and 'a collar- 36 on the rod 36. The rod 36 carries at its top providedin the wall of l'the Aend the striker 39. In the 'position of the vparts in Fig. 1 of the drawing, which shows the mine in its safety position, the percussion cap 18 is located at such a distance from the striker that it cannot be struckby the. same.

The mine operates in the following man- In order that the buoy may rise slowly and' -its parts mayv notv be subjected to suddenl shock as it comes to rest-,eil or the like is v.provided in the chamber 13 and is introduced through the valve 14". As thebuoy rises relativey to the piston 9 and the parts connected thereto, the valve 14 is shut and the oil is forced out throughthe narrow hole 111', thus causing the piston 9 tov move slowly. During the relative upwardmovement-of the buoy the striker 39, connected with the piston 9 by the rod 19, is lowered in its cylinder 37, while the tension of the spring 38 is increased.v At the same time the member 1G carrying the percussion cap 18, (which member is also connected with the piston 9) will assume a osit-ion nearer to the stop '39 'for the collan' 6, so that when the striker is released it ca'n strike the said cap. Duringthe` said relative upward movement of the buoy the extension 26 of the arm' 22 is disengaged from the 'rod 24,

but remains in engagement with the square .upper portion of the rod 19., The sal am- .moni'ae 32 is dissolved by the sea Water, s0

that the piston 28 is forced outward by the spring-29 and the free arm 22, 30 has the necessary length. The mine is now ready tov act. As a ship passes the mine and comes intocontact 'with the saine, it strikes the swinging arm 22, 30 and displaces it relatively to the buoy. Consequently, the arm 35 of the rod 36 is disengaged from the projections, 34,34, so that the striker 39 is free to be impelled upward by the spring 28 to strike t-he percussion cap 18. The

flash from the cap transmitted by the charge in the passage 17 and the pipes 15 and 10 to a charge of fulminate 37 and the explosive provided in the receptacle 5, which transmits the explosionto :the bursting charge of the mine contained -in the chamber 4. The firing apparatus will, obviously act ifA the passing ship Aonly strikes the arm 22, 30.

As seen from the above description there is no possibility of the mine being accidentally fired as long as it is on the deck of the boat. When the mine is submerged the explosion of a eounter-mineLo'r the currents in the sea cannot effect the relativeA movement of the buoy and the arm 22, 30 necessary for the firing operation. Consequently the firing apparatus of the mine is independent of the said currents and cannot explode'out of sympathy.

The invention may evidently-'be modified in many respects without departing from the natureof the invention. For instance electrical means may be used for firing the mine, in which case the arm 22v effects the closing of the contact device comprised in the said electrical means, as easily understood by those skilled in the art.

What I claim and desire .toV Secure by i' Letters Patent ofthe U nited States is 1. In a submarine mine, the combination with the firing mechanism, of a lateral arm` on the mine capable of being angularly-displaced about a vertical axls, Aand means whereby movement of said arm with'respectto the mine directly causes the firing-mechanism to re the mine. A

2. In a submarine mine, the combination with the firing mechanism, of. an eXtensible and lateral displaeeable armjon' the mine and means whereby the movement of said arm with respect to the mine directly causes the firing mechanism to fire the mine.

3. In a submarine mine, the combination l for connect-ing said lateral arm to the rod,

a spring controlled striker, and means carried by said rod for cooperating withl the striker.

5. In a submarine'mine, the combinationof a lateral displaeeable arm on the mine, a

rod rotatably mounted in said mine, means arm, means for normally retaining saidv member in the retracted position against the resistance of its spring, a rod rotatably mounted in the mine, means for 'connecting' said lateral arm to the rod, a spring confor connecting said lateral `arm to the rod,

trolled striker and means carried by Said I rod for cooperating Withthe striker.

7. In a Submarine mine, the combination of a lateral displaeeable arm 'on said mine, a spring controlled member carried by said arm, soluble means for normally retaining said 'member in the retracted position against the resistance of its spring, a rod r0- tatably mounted in the mine, means for connecting said lateral arm to the rod, a spring controlled striker and means carried by said rod for coperating with the striker.

8. In a submarine mine, the combination of a hollow lateral displaceable arm on said mine, a spring controlled piston rod in said arm, a soluble plu of salt normally retaining said piston an rod retracted, a rod rotatably mounted in the mine, means for connecting said lateral arm to the rod, a spring controlled striker and means carried by said i rod for cooperating with the striker.

9. In a submarine mine, the combination with the firing mechanism, of a lateral arm on the mine capable of being angularly displaced about a vertical axis, means whereby the movement of said arm withlrespect to the mine directly causes the firing mechanism to fire the mine, and means whereby the firing mechanism is rendered inoperative until the mine is s bmerged.

10. In a submarine mine, the combination with the firing mechanism, of a lateral arm on the mine capable obeing angularly displaced about a vertical axis, means whereby the movement of said arm with respect to the mine directly causes the firing mechanism to fire the mine, and means whereby are rendered inoperative until the mine-is submerged.

11. In a submarine mine, the combination with the tiring mechanism, of a lateral displaceable arm on the mine, means whereby the movement of said arm with respect to the mine will cause the firing mechanism to tire the mine, and means whereby the upor buoyancy of the mine when ward pull firing mechanism i 1 submerged operative.

l2. In a submarine mne,the combination l, with the firing mechanism, of a lateral displaceable arm on the mine, means whereby 1 the movement of said arm with respect to l the mine will cause the irin fire the mine, and means w ereby the upward pull or buoyancy of the mine when y submerged renders the firing mechanism renders the the tiring mechanism and the lateral -arm i\ tube, an extension mechanism to t and the lateral arm capable of being operated;

13. In a submarine mine, the combination of a lateral displaceable arm on the mine, a

rod rotatably mountedy 1n said mine, means f for connecting said lateral arm to the rod, a spring controlled striker, means carried by said rod for coperating with th strlirer, a spring controlled member to wh aid rod is attached, and means for connecting said member to the anchor cable.

14. In a submarine mine, the combination of a lateral displaceable arm on rod rotatably mounted in said mine?, means for connecting said lateral arm to the` rod, a spring controlled striker, means carried by said rod for coperating with the striker, a spring controlled piston towhich said rod is attached and means for connecting said piston to the anchor rope.

15. In a submarine mine, the combination of a lateral displaceable arm on vthe mine, a rod rotatably mounted in said mine, means for connecting said lateral arm to the rod, a spring controlled striker, means carried by said rod for cooperating with the striker, a spring controlled piston to which said rod is attached, means for connecting said piston to the anchor rope, a tube connected to said piston, and a percussion cap carried by said tube.

16. In asubmarine mine, the combination of a lateral displaceable arm on the mine, a. rod rotatably mounted in said mine, means for connecting said lateral arm to the rod, a spring controlled striker, means carried by said rod for cooperating withthe striker, a spring controlled piston to which said rod is attached, means for onnecting said piston to the anchor rope, a tube connected to said piston, a percussion cap carried by said of said lateral arm, and a rod carried by said piston for normally en gaging with said arm.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of, two witnesses.

GIOVANNI EMANUELKRLIA Witnesses:

T. SELBY WARDLE, J. W. PA'roHiNo.

the mime, aY 

